DjPope - DjPope Presents The Sound Of Baltimore (2023)

UGOTMYHEART featuring MissFly is a sweet love song. Thumping kick, persistent shaker rides the bouncy electro bassline and repetitive tempered key stab melody. Miss Fly sounds like a low-keyed, mellow Marlena Shaw (jazz vocalist). She fearlessly caresses the lyric with a slight twang and a sassy undertone. Her phrasing has a sensuous swagger, inviting and deeply heartfelt. The ending is very robust and DJ-friendly perfect for those adventurous DJs who are adept at overlaying and melody mixing.

No Way Back featuring the legendary, urban griot, Brutha Basil is a remake of the Adonis '80s House classic and is just as ballsy as the original and Brutha Basil puts it down as only he can. House audiences familiar with the Adonis' original will salivate over this modernized version.

R U Ready featuring Ungle Chriz is deep, moody, and hypnotic. His sweet, creamy, whispered vocals are passionate at best. Insistent hi's, memorable lovelorn keys, crafty rumbling bassline fervently follow the synth melody. The inventive, tension-filled breakdown to just the strings synths, bassline, and kick is dramatic. We, at Funkhut, are looking forward to hearing more from Ungle Chriz, a definite standout performer.

Walk In My Healing inspired by DJ Pope's mom is his beautiful testimony that the Most-High is merciful and the ultimate healer. This is the true story surrounding Pope's battle with cancer and he is a living example of God's grace, mercy, and favor. The lead vocalist, Adrian Blue featuring UNA takes center stage and is thoroughly energetic and tenacious across this musical terrain. Strong pianos, airy keys, soulful 4/4 traditional Vocal House, a moving bassline that culminates into a funky organ solo at the ending. A compelling piece of quality Soulful House Music―a banger!!!

The Rain by powerhouse diva, the incomparable UNA whose instantaneous vocals always satisfy and wonderfully refreshing to hear (We love UNA!!!). With The Rain, UNA is commanding and direct handling the melody with ease. The bassline leads the way in the intro followed by glorious piano chords that build into bright key horns woven to a throbbing kick. Rubbery keys & bass ride under the plethora of gorgeous synth sounds. UNA, a soul singer par excellence is bold and beautiful here, sharp and clean. So captivating, the anticipation for her next word is salivating! A win-win tune hands down!

Soulful songster, Ed Ramsey, the featured vocalist on Just A Little Bit (More Love) is an electro-charged keyboard grind, persistent hi's, funky gurgling guitar riffs over pounding bottoms, the poetic keyboard melody move in tandem with Ed's message-oriented hymn of love throughout out the verses. Slick harmonies and well-arranged backing vocals support the much-needed cry "Love is patient, love is kind, love will always be here 'til the end of time". Just A Little Bit (More Love) is a high-octane soulful house stomper perfect for club/internet radio & mix show consumption.

The second tune featuring MissFly is the 1979 Gap Band Disco remake of Baby Baba Boogie that sticks quite close to Gap's original version yet has a modern feel. The chunky Disco-inspired drums, brassy horns, swaying strings, and MissFly's baby baba chant examines the funky, R&B side of Disco seems to get overlooked.

Keeping My Composure features the lovely songbird, Sheree Hicks, whose discography is filled with numerous hit tunes and is among the more popular Soulful House Music recording artists. Sheree effervesces here just as the title suggests. It's a heart-to-heart conversation with herself about keeping her feelings for her lover contained and not letting strong desire take control. Clanking percussions, stocky bottoms, groove-laden keys, rumbling bassline provide the bed for Sheree's big, bold chorus. A definite winner!

Keeping it in the family, Pope's auntie Ms. Sunday takes us to church with her rousing testimony firecracker, Last Night. It tells the story of the Most High's sweet mercy and blessings of deliverance from the trials that come upon us all. A midtempo gospel groove, taking its cues from the Indeep classic, Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, Last Night is definitely, a head bopper, equipped with sweet pianos, swirling string sounds, sizzling hi's, creeping bassline, and swinging melody.

Draped in the afro-tech overcoat, Has To Be This Way featuring the chanteuse Dana Weaver is the current Soulful House music dancer's dream track. Insistent bottoms, rubbery bassline, moving percussions and sustained keys support the strong choral hook. Dana is at ease, comfortable, never overpowering, fits neatly in the groove.

Then there's the rousing rendition of I Don't Love You Anymore featuring the mildly husky-voiced ace man Marc Evans. Keeping the melody intact, it has a uniqueness all its own. A 4/4 stomper yet lush and sweet, fortified percussions, twinkling keys float under the sighing strings as Evan's tension-filled brawny ad-libs drive the production to the end.

Seasoned mastersinger Tracy Hamlin is another Baltimore vocalist who has recorded many noteworthy hits and is featured on the track, Uphill Battle. Uphill Battle is a story of struggle, perseverance, and triumph for anyone who has ever gone through trials and tribulations can relate to. Tracy is confident speaking directly to the listener/dancer. This track swings with percolating bass, meaty bottoms that support the instantaneous Salsoul-like percussion, burbling guitar sounds, and neat horn bits ride the chorus. DJ Pope has done it once again! The master of modern R&B/Soulful Vocal House music has produced another soon-to-be-massive LP here with his Sounds Of Baltimore album. It is an awesome collection of soulful vocal diamonds that connoisseurs of the genre will certainly delight over this thoroughly passionate and celebratory LP.